AN actress and Trinity graduate has avoided jail after glassing a barman in the face, leaving him permanently scarred.

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Tanya Wilson (27), of Eugene Street in Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at The Mezz in Temple Bar on the night of February 2.

She also pleaded guilty to two other counts of assault and one of obstructing gardai.

The court heard she slapped and headbutted another staff member, punched a garda several times and obstructed other gardai by attempting to kick and hit them while they were searching her.

Giving evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Garda Paul Grey said the young Brazilian barman was going to collect ice in the Mezz bar when he saw Wilson in the store room area arguing with another staff member and saying: "Everything is s***, this is a s*** party".

The barman advised his colleague not to talk to her because she was too drunk, but a short time later he noticed the blonde girl trying to get into the cellar.

When he asked her to leave the staff area she said: "What's your problem?"

The barman responded: "You're my problem."

Gda Grey told the court that Wilson then slapped the barman across the face and chased him with a glass in her hand when he tried to get away.

Stitches

He said that she was acting "really crazy" and he put up his hand up to try and block her. He then followed her out a fire escape and put his hand on her arm to calm her down.

Wilson then said: "You can't touch me, I'm a girl," and smashed the Bulmers glass into the barman's face.

He grabbed her arm and brought her to the bar while she was screaming: "Let me go, let me go; he attacked me."

Gardai were called before the barman was put in a taxi to the Mater Hospital where he waited for seven hours to be treated.

He received three stitches across the bridge of his nose which were later removed leaving a scar, and was also treated for 8 or 9 other wounds including small cuts to both eyelids, bruising and a black eye.

Meanwhile, another staff member at the Mezz bar asked a colleague to get a tissue for Wilson's bleeding hand and tried to calm her down.

He said she became calm for a few minutes and then got very aggressive again and tried to slap him five or six times, connecting with one slap in the face and one punch on the chin.

She also headbutted this staff member in the chest.

Gda Grey said when he arrived at the scene Wilson punched him several times and said: "Don't f***ing touch me." She was very aggressive and vomited in the garda car on the way to Pearse Street Station.

The court heard that when Wilson was taken down to a cell to be searched by two female gardai she was "roaring abuse" and attempting to hit and kick gardai.

The following morning Wilson was cooperative with gardai, identified herself on CCTV footage and said she remembered ordering a shot with her friends, but that all she recalled after that was "a commotion and being arrested."

Brendan Foley, defending, told the court that his client had no previous convictions and was extremely remorseful.

He said she had blacked out twice previously that year from alcohol and that after this incident had sought treatment for her alcohol problems and was attending psychotherapy.

Behaviour

Wilson brought €2,500 to court as a token of her remorse, which was accepted on behalf of the Brazilian barman.

The court heard that since graduating from Trinity College, Wilson has worked as a voice-over actress and set up a production company.

Judge Patrick McCartan imposed an 18-month sentence, suspended on condition that she maintains good behaviour and continues with her alcohol counselling.